Academic library directors in the eyes of hiring administrators: A comparison of the attributes, qualifications, and competencies desired by chief academic officers with those recommended by academic library directors

doi:10.1016/S0732-0671(08)00206-X

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Advances in Library Administration and Organization

ISSN: 0732-0671
Series editor(s): Delmus Williams, Janine Golden

Subject Area: Library and Information Studies

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Academic library directors in the eyes of hiring administrators: A comparison of the attributes, qualifications, and competencies desired by chief academic officers with those recommended by academic library directors

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Title:	Academic library directors in the eyes of hiring administrators: A comparison of the attributes, qualifications, and competencies desired by chief academic officers with those recommended by academic library directors
Author(s):	Gary Neil Fitsimmons
Volume:	26 Editor(s): Edward D. Garten, Delmus E. Williams, James M. Nyce, Janine Golden ISBN: 978-0-7623-1488-1
Citation:	Gary Neil Fitsimmons (2008), Academic library directors in the eyes of hiring administrators: A comparison of the attributes, qualifications, and competencies desired by chief academic officers with those recommended by academic library directors, in Edward D. Garten, Delmus E. Williams, James M. Nyce, Janine Golden (ed.) 26 (Advances in Library Administration and Organization, Volume 26), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.265-315
DOI:	10.1016/S0732-0671(08)00206-X (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	Librarians have traditionally looked to academic library directors (ALDs) to list those qualities that make them good at what they do. Little research has sought the input of institutional administrators (who are the ones who hire ALDs) about what they look for when hiring ALDs. This study presented a list of qualities that had been rated by ALDs as being important for the position to these senior institutional administrators and asked them to rate the relative importance of these qualities and to add to the list any qualities they felt should be there. Their ratings were then compared with those of the library directors to see how closely they correlated. The results showed not only that there was statistically significant agreement between the two groups, but also that there were important differences, with the hiring administrators placing more priority on ideological attributes (attributes based on professional orientations and ideals) while ALDs emphasized the need for experience. The hiring administrators also added several attributes to the original list, including managing multiple priorities, being learning/student oriented (especially toward low achievers), being self-directed with a good work ethic, being able to relate effectively to all constituencies, and experience in the same type of institution as the one the person was being hired to lead.